PLANS to expand delivery hours at Morrisons in the town centre have sparked outrage from local residents.

Tonight councillors will meet at Southport Town Hall to decide whether the superstore can receive deliveries any time day or night on any day of the week.

A number of residents, who live in Beach Priory Gardens, Duke Street and Lord Street, are planning to attend the meeting, having submitted a petition with 28 signatures against the plans.

There have also been seven letters of objections, with some complaining that “round-the-clock HGV traffic would erode house prices and rateable values”.

Cllr David Pearson told the Visiter: “All three Dukes ward councillors have been supportive towards local residents. We feel the hours Morrisons has already are adequate. People are entitled to their sleep and their peace.”

Sir Ron Watson agreed: “I am concerned about the distress caused to local residents. Most people are reasonable about these things but equally, they are perfectly entitled to their rest.”

Permission was granted back in 1999 to allow one delivery at the Lord Street store between 6 and 7am, Monday to Saturday and one delivery between 9 and 11pm, Monday to Friday.

However, these latest plans have been submitted as part of a national strategy to enable deliveries to Morrisons stores throughout the night. It is intended to ensure that a full range of produce is available as soon as the shop is open and to minimise the number of deliveries, making “more efficient use of vehicles and vehicular movements”.

Cllr Les Byrom said: “We agreed opening hours and all of those types of things years ago.

“Things do change and do need to be looked at but there needs to be consultation with the people in that area.”